Skirt-supporter.



Patented Aug. 20, 190i.

D. A. LEVY.

SKIRT SUPPORTER.

(Application filed Feb. 23, 1901A (No Model.)

Q/Vi l ne-om 3 V W M 1 NlTlED S rains arnnr union.

DAVID A. LEVY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SKIRT SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,872, dated August 20, 1901. Application filed February 23, 1901. Serial No. 48,568. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that LDAVID A. LEVY, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skirt-Supporters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention aims to provide a simple, cheap, and effective means for supporting ladies and misses skirts when it is required to prevent their dragging upon the street or other surface and to have the hands free for any purpose.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for efiecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are necessarily susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a front view of a skirt-supporter embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the clasp. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the cam-andlink connection.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The supporter comprises a buckle 1, clasp 2, and flexible connection 3. The buckle 1 may be of any design and is intended to be connected with any convenient portion of the wearing-apparel-such, for instance, as the belt-and for this purpose it is provided with a hook 4 to engage'over the top edge of the belt and form a means of suspension for the clasp and the skirt attached thereto.

The clasp is composed of two members 5 and 6, hinged at one end and separable at the opposite end and having the intermediate portion of the members oppositely deflected in an outward direction, so as to accommodate a portion of the skirt gripped by the device. Clamp means are provided and co operate with the members 5 and 6 to draw them together, so as to grip the portion of the skirt placed therebetween. These clamp devices consist of a link 7 and cam 8. The link has its end portions bent at a right angle and preferably in opposite directions, one of the bent ends forming a support for the cam 8 and the opposite bent end being adapted to engage with a lug 9, provided on the inner side of the member 6. The outer end portion of the link 7 passes through an opening in the member 5 and receives the camB, which is adapted to turn freely thereon to force the free ends of the members 5 and 6 together to grip the skirt or other article to be held thereby. A finger-piece 10 is applied to the cam 8 for convenience of operation and also to constitute a stop to limit the turning of the cam when the members 5 and 6 are pressed together to the limit of their movement. The lug 9 may be formed with or applied to the member 5, and the link 7 has pivotal connection therewith, so as to move to prevent binding when the members 5 and 6 open and close.

The members 5 and 6 of the clasp may be hinged in any desired way, and, as shown, knuckles are provided at their upper ends in a manner similar to a butt-hinge, and these knuckles are connected by a portion of a link 11, forming an element of the flexible connection 3 between the buckle and clasp. This link 11 is in the form of a bail of approximately triangular shape, the lower or horizontal side forming a pintle upon which the members 5 and 6 articulate. A spring 12 is mounted upon the link 7 intermediate of the members 5 and 6 and forces the latter apart when the cam 8 is turned to admit of the opening of the clasp. The flexible connection 3 is preferably a chain, although it may consist of a length of tape, leather, or other flexible material suitable for the purpose.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a garment-supporter, a clasp composed of cooperating members hinged at one end, one of said members having an inner lug, the other member having an opening about opposite said lug, a link having bent ends, one of said ends being pivotally engaged with the aforementioned lug, and a cam upon the other bent end and adapted for cooperation with the members to force them together, substantially as specified.

2. In a garment-supporter, pivoted members, one of the members having an inner lug and the other anopening, a link having pivotal connection with said lug at one end and having its opposite end portion passing through the opening of the other member, a

to cam fitted to the projecting end of the link,

and a spring mounted upon the link and adapted to force the members of the clasp apart at their free ends, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID A. LEVY. [1,. s.] Witnesses:

ADOLPH LEVY, CHAS. O. PERRY. 

